CHARGERS: Chargers lose Atari Bigby for season

Team brings back linebacker Bront Bird

Atari Bigby suffered a groin injury Sunday that further testing confirmed to be "pretty bad," a source said Tuesday. With a timetable of three to five weeks, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve.

The team signed linebacker Bront Bird to a two-year contract. He is considered capable of contributing immediately on special teams.

Bigby, 31, inked a two-year deal in March. He has started all 11 games this season, totaling 68 tackles, second most on the team.

He suffered the injury in the first half against the Ravens and watched the second half from the sideline in street clothes while Corey Lynch took his place. Of the Chargers' four active safeties, Lynch was the only one to finish the game healthy.

Pro Bowler Eric Weddle suffered a concussion, and safety Darrell Stuckey injured his hamstring. Weddle is expected to play Sunday against the Bengals while Stuckey may have a difficult time getting ready. His status will become more clear Wednesday when the Chargers have their first practice of the week.

Rookie safety Brandon Taylor, a third-round pick from LSU, will make his NFL debut and likely see reps on both defense and special teams.

Inside linebacker Donald Butler (groin) also suffered a groin injury in the first half. He is not expected to play Sunday.

Bird, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound linebacker from Texas Tech, was among the Chargers' final training-camp cuts. He played nine games for them in 2011, working mostly on special teams.

He is coming off a four-game suspension for violating the league's performance enhancement policy. The suspension began Oct. 27 and ended last week.

Upon learning of it, Bird wrote a letter to the Chargers, among other teams, explaining he mistakenly took the wrong over-the-counter pills to treat eye dryness following recent laser eye surgery, his agent Jerry Marlatt said Tuesday.